Heike Drechsler

It was in 1991 when PUMA introduced another gamechanger:

the PUMA Disc, the world’s first laceless sports shoe with a system of internal wires that tighten the upper for a perfect fit. Originally designed for a range of running shoes in 1991, it wasn’t until one year later that the Disc entered the world stage of Athletics at the Olympics in Barcelona. Heike Drechsler, one of the most successful female long-jumpers of all time, sported the laceless innovation.

“PUMA had signed Heike shortly before the games in Barcelona and she was quickly intrigued by the Disc system,” remembers Helmut. “When the decision was made to introduce the Disc as a performance spike at the Olympics, Heike was very keen to be the forerunner.”

Wearing the Disc, Heike Drechsler jumped to victory with of 7.14 meters, the first Olympic gold medal in her career. Eight years later, she won another gold medal at the Sydney Olympics and became the only woman in history to have won two Olympic gold medals in the long jump. For the PUMA Disc, however, Heike’s success in Barcelona remained the only gold medal that has ever been won in a Disc shoe until today.

“The Disc needed to be further developed and optimized to fully meet the needs of our athletes,” says Helmut. “I am therefore all the more excited that we are going to revive this icon at the Olympics in Rio next year!”

24 years after Barcelona, the legacy of the Disc will come to life again being sported by Usain Bolt and all of PUMA’s athletes in the sprint disciplines…